Originally posted by diamond Bush used errant judgement on his part in this situation.
Altho innocent in his motives this was a faux pau on his part.

dbs

Actually Diamond, I'm suprised by your response. This shows growth.

But I will say the "innocent motive" is what I find most interesting. Because in a way I think you're right, yet this is the core of the issue.

Like many who have defended him, they found the act to be an innocent guesture. Yet obviously it was a crossing of boundaries. I honestly think Bush just doesn't know any better, but that isn't an excuse. The lack of these boundaries is sexist.

But just like any "ism" the thought or the act is "innocent" in the beholders mind.

1. The only person that would know whether or not it was inappropriate is Merkel. We have no idea whether Merkel wanted it or not. We don't know what her reaction was. Judging from still photos is absolute nonsense. If she came out and said something to you as a friend or in public we could judge this. Do we know what they're relationship is? Do you know whether she hugs him all the time? Maybe she is very demonstrative and this one time she's returning some affection to her. We don't know. Maybe she called him over for a massage. Maybe not.

2. The photo where she raises her arms could be saying, "Hey massage my arms." She might be stretching. We were not there. We don't know. The way the photos are placed it would LEAD you to think that she reacted a certain way. We really don't know.

3. Once again, these are still photos. We don't know what order they were taken in. This is could very easily be selective editing and manipulated to look worse than it was. I worked in the communications and media business for a decade. This is very easy to do. Maybe there was a photo afterwards where she punched him. Or maybe there was a photo or a moment before or afterwards where she came up to him and gave him a hug. For all we know they're lovers. Most likely not but once again, we don't know.

4. We weren't there. We are in no position to make judgements on what really went on by looking at selected photos. If this had been a fight on the street and the photographer had shot the just the REACTION to someone gettng punched in the stomach and it was a bunch of photos of a guy beating the crap out of someone else....we wouldn't be getting the story of what happened. We don't know the before or afterwards.

Originally posted by Westport We're all making grand judgements from these still photos??

1. The only person that would know whether or not it was inappropriate is Merkel. We have no idea whether Merkel wanted it or not. We don't know what her reaction was. Judging from still photos is absolute nonsense. If she came out and said something to you as a friend or in public we could judge this. Do we know what they're relationship is? Do you know whether she hugs him all the time? Maybe she is very demonstrative and this one time she's returning some affection to her. We don't know. Maybe she called him over for a massage. Maybe not.

2. The photo where she raises her arms could be saying, "Hey massage my arms." She might be stretching. We were not there. We don't know. The way the photos are placed it would LEAD you to think that she reacted a certain way. We really don't know.

3. Once again, these are still photos. We don't know what order they were taken in. This is could very easily be selective editing and manipulated to look worse than it was. I worked in the communications and media business for a decade. This is very easy to do. Maybe there was a photo afterwards where she punched him. Or maybe there was a photo or a moment before or afterwards where she came up to him and gave him a hug. For all we know they're lovers. Most likely not but once again, we don't know.

4. We weren't there. We are in no position to make judgements on what really went on by looking at selected photos. If this had been a fight on the street and the photographer had shot the just the REACTION to someone gettng punched in the stomach and it was a bunch of photos of a guy beating the crap out of someone else....we wouldn't be getting the story of what happened. We don't know the before or afterwards.

5. We might have a better idea if it were videotape but it's not.

Exactly. Like a songs says, "Though cameras never lie, the edits often do".

Yes, but as "innocent" as the intent is, it's still wrong. Does a racist neccesarily know using a slur is wrong?

It doesn't clear them of any wrong doing, but it's something that needs to be unlearned.

Interesting viewpoint. A person may not know that a word is considered a slur. What makes the person a racist in your question? The fact they used the slur? Or is the person a racist already, and somehow doesn't know that a word is offensive?

I'm asking these questions because I think we need to be more careful before we start applying such labels.

Originally posted by Westport We're all making grand judgements from these still photos??

1. The only person that would know whether or not it was inappropriate is Merkel. We have no idea whether Merkel wanted it or not. We don't know what her reaction was. Judging from still photos is absolute nonsense. If she came out and said something to you as a friend or in public we could judge this. Do we know what they're relationship is? Do you know whether she hugs him all the time? Maybe she is very demonstrative and this one time she's returning some affection to her. We don't know. Maybe she called him over for a massage. Maybe not.

2. The photo where she raises her arms could be saying, "Hey massage my arms." She might be stretching. We were not there. We don't know. The way the photos are placed it would LEAD you to think that she reacted a certain way. We really don't know.